What's Wrong With This Picture: Four's Company Edition
January 25th, 2010 12:44 PM
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Volkswagen has announced [via Autoblog] that “in response to requests by many customers,” the Passat CC will now be available with seating for three in the back seat. The lesson: even the people who spend more money for a more-fashionable but less-practical version of a mass-market car want that extra seatbelt just in case. Which begs the question…
What’s going to happen to poor baby Volt? Thanks to a fat battery running down the middle of the car, it’s buckets-only in the back. And unlike VW’s CC, the Volt won’t be fixable with some extra upholstery, a headrest and a seatbelt. Sure, it won’t matter for the hardcore early adopters, but for the folks who think the Volt can replace their family sedan, this seems likely to be an issue.
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Now if only the Passat CC had sufficient headroom for one in the back seat. Or the front. That plunging roofline is an immoveable wall that will keep me from buying another VW for many years to come, especially since the new US Jetta sports the same claustrophobic gangsta profile. So long, VW, it's been fun. Ernie has it right, though. Every car likes this needs a belt to secure a child seat in the center position. That's the safest place in the car. Besides, the little passenger has a better view of sights ahead from the middle. Easier to reach back there and wipe away the snot, too.
Why not four seats? Did anyone complain when stupid consoles chewed up a spot for a passenger[and knee room as well?] Or bucket seats became the standard for giving the driver that "cockpit" feel ? You know to indulge all those 'enthusiast' fantasies while creeping along in traffic ? And 4 seaters are sportier than 5 seaters, all my friends say so. I am being sarcastic: any car that large should at least offer seating for 5. Even the unloved K Car advertised seating for six.